“Mr. Garrish just stepped out to the mine for a few minutes,” answered one of the clerks. “He’ll be back presently. Anything I can do for you?”
“Did he go down in the mine?” questioned Tom Rover.
“No, he only went over to call up one of the gang foremen. They’re getting ready to set off another charge down there.”
“Then I’ll walk over and see if I can find him.”
The boys walked around the mouth of the mine and then stepped inside for several yards in order that they might get a better view of what was beyond. They were straining their eyes in the semi-darkness when suddenly Jack felt a rather rough hand on his shoulder.
“Hi, you fellows! What are you doing here?” cried an unsympathetic voice. “Don’t you know that strangers have no business in this mine?”
“Excuse us, but we didn’t know we were intruding,” answered Jack, and he and the others retreated to the mouth of the opening, followed by the man who had accosted them. He was a tall, thin individual with gray hair and steely blue-gray eyes.
“Where did you boys come from?” questioned the man abruptly, and looked sharply from one to another.
“My brother and I came with my father,” answered Randy. “These two fellows are my cousins.”
“What’s your name?”